弁償・辨償|べんしょうbenshou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
弁償弁償 is the common spelling and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it when writing this word.
辨償辨償 is an outdated kanji variant and is less common than 弁償. Recognize it, but use 弁償 when writing.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcompensation; indemnification; reparation; restitution; recompense
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 弁償する（べんしょうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 弁償します（べんしょうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 弁償しない（べんしょうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 弁償しません（べんしょうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 弁償せず・弁償せぬ（べんしょうせず・べんしょうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 弁償した（べんしょうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 弁償しました（べんしょうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 弁償しなかった（べんしょうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 弁償しませんでした（べんしょうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 弁償して（べんしょうして） |
| Potential | 弁償できる（べんしょうできる） |
| Passive | 弁償される（べんしょうされる） |
| Causative | 弁償させる（べんしょうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 弁償させられる（べんしょうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 弁償すれば（べんしょうすれば） |
| tara | 弁償したら（べんしょうしたら） |
| Volitional | 弁償しよう（べんしょうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 弁償しましょう（べんしょうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 弁償しろ（べんしょうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym償うつぐなうNeutralA verb for making up for a wrong or atoning (「罪を償う」); it stresses making up for a fault, while 「弁償」 is specifically paying money or goods for a loss you caused.
- Synonym補償ほしょうNeutralA noun for compensating a loss (「国の補償」), typically when no one is at fault — unlike 「弁償」, which implies you caused the damage.
- Synonym賠償ばいしょうNeutralA noun for compensation in a legal context (「損害賠償」), typically for unlawful damage; 「弁償」 is the everyday word for paying for what you broke.
- Synonym償いつぐないNeutralA noun for making amends or atonement (「償いをする」); it centres on moral redress rather than the money-or-goods payment that 「弁償」 denotes.
- Synonym償金しょうきんWrittenA written, formal noun for an indemnity (「償金を課す」), used mainly for war reparations and now rare; 「弁償」 is the ordinary everyday word.
- Synonym代償だいしょうNeutralA noun for a price or cost paid (「大きな代償を払う」), mostly figurative — what you sacrifice for a goal — rather than money owed for damage.
- Synonym埋め合わせうめあわせCasualA colloquial noun for making up for something (「埋め合わせをする」), often compensating someone in everyday, personal terms rather than formally paying for damage.
- Synonym填補てんぽWrittenA written, formal term for covering a deficit (「損失を填補する」), mostly in insurance contexts; unlike everyday 「弁償」, it belongs to formal prose.
- Related償還しょうかんNeutralA noun for repayment or redemption (「国債の償還」), used mainly for bonds and loans — a financial sense 「弁償」 does not have.
- Related補うおぎなうNeutralA verb for filling a shortage or gap (「欠員を補う」); it can also mean making up for a loss but does not necessarily involve paying compensation.
- Related弁償金べんしょうきんNeutralA noun for the compensation money itself (「弁償金を払う」); it points to the specific sum paid, where 「弁償」 is the act of compensating.
- Related補償金ほしょうきんNeutralA noun for a compensation payment (「補償金を受け取る」), typically paid out by a government or company.
- Related贖うあがなうWrittenA written, formal verb for atoning for a wrong (「罪を贖う」), often with religious overtones; 「弁償」 is the everyday word for paying for damage.
Use 「弁償」 for paying for something you broke or lost (「割った皿を弁償する」); it is the common everyday word. For legal damages use 「賠償」, for losses with no one at fault 「補償」, for atoning for a wrong 「償う」, and for making up with someone in daily life 「埋め合わせ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
